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No Federal Olympics Law or PolicyIn the GAO report, Olympic Games - Federal Government Supplies Significant
Funding and Support. investigators report that, "no government-wide law
or policy exists that defines the federal governments overall role in funding
and supporting the Olympic Games when hosted in the United States. Nor is there
a single federal agency that has the responsibility to oversee and monitor the
federal funding and support provided for the Olympic Games." However,
reports the GAO, federal agencies have in the past and continue to fund various
aspects of the Olympic Games in response to requests from state and local
governments. According to the GAO, " Federal assistance has been requested
because these entities have not had enough resources to provide for the
infrastructure improvements necessary to prepare the host city or to plan and
stage all aspects of the Olympic Games when hosted in the United States."

Although President Clinton established a White House task force to coordinate
federal involvement in the 1996 Atlanta and 2002 Salt Lake City Olympic Games,
OMB found no statutory requirement for a single federal agency to oversee and
monitor the appropriateness of federal funding and support for the Olympic
Games.

In addition, GAO researchers found that federal agencies failed to properly
track or report their spending in support of the Olympic Games, except when
directly ordered to do so by the White House's Office of Management and Budget.

Some Example Expenditures

Examples of Major
Federal Funding and Support Planned
and Provided to the 2002 Winter Olympic Games in Salt Lake City
(In 1999 Dollars)

Agency

Services
Provided

Total Projected
Cost

Dept. of Defense

safety &
security services

$24.6 million

Health & Human Services

safety &
security services

$9.5 million

Dept. of Justice

safety &
security services

$47 million

Treasury

safety &
security services

$58.7 million

FEMA

safety &
security services

$6.1 million

Forest Service

planning services -
forest improvements

$16.1 million

Transportation
(DOT)

transportation
& transit improvements --
planning and construction

$83.8 million

GAO's Recommendations In its report to Senators McCain and Dingell, the GAO concludes that while
its roll in the Olympic Games is not specifically authorized by statute or
policy, the federal government has become a major financial supporter of the
Games when hosted by U.S. cities. According to the GAO, Congress should
consider passing laws formalizing the government's roll and level of support
for the Olympic Games.

The GAO further recommends:

That the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), "track and
periodically report to Congress federal agencies planned and actual
funding and support for the Olympic Games hosted in the United States,
beginning when a U.S. city is awarded the right to host the Games through
the completion of the Games.

That OMB, "provide guidance to agencies on what data should be
compiled to ensure consistency and completeness, and request all federal
agencies to provide information, including those that do not normally
report to OMB."

That the General Services Administration (GSA) and the Veterans
Administration (VA), "implement policies and controls to ensure the
appropriate use of federal funds for the Olympic and Paralympic Games
hosted in the United States."

Senator McCain on the GAO ReportOn Sept. 19, 2000, Sen. McCain, speaking in opposition to the Conference
Report on the 2001 Legislative Branch Appropriations bill advised the Senate
of details from the GAO's report. As recorded in the Congressional Record,
Sen. McCain stated,

"The GAO now determines that $1.3 billion--and some of those I will
read: $974,000 for the Utah State Olympic Public Safety Command; $5 million
for the Utah Communications Agency Network; $3 million to Olympic Regional
Development Authority, upgrades at Mt. Van Hoevenberg Sports Complex; $2.5
million, Salt Lake City Olympics bus facilities; $2.5 million, Salt Lake City
Olympics regional park-and-ride lots; $500,000, Salt Lake City Olympics
transit bus loan, and on and on; $925,000 to allow the Utah State Olympic
Public Safety Command to continue to develop and support a public safety
program for the 2002 Winter Olympics; $1 million for the 2002 Winter Olympics
security training; $2.2 million for the Charleston Water Conservancy District,
UT, to meet sewer infrastructure needs associated with the 2002 Winter Olympic
Games. What the Olympic games supposedly hosted and funded by Salt Lake City,
which began in corruption and bribery, has now turned into is an incredible
pork-barrel project for Salt Lake City and its environs." --
Sen. John McCain in the United States Senate, Sept. 19, 2000 - [Page
S8731-S8748 - Congressional Record.]

The
U.S. General Accounting Office (GAO)
An agency that works for Congress and the American people. Congress asks GAO
to study the programs and expenditures of the federal government. Commonly
called the investigative arm of Congress or the congressional watchdog.

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